Japan Short Term Missions

Japan Short Term Missions in the Tohoku Region

This past summer I went to Japan with my church, Austin Chinese Church. We partnered with Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS) to serve the Tohoku area of northern Japan. We stayed in the city of Ishinomaki at Watanhoa Christ Church.

Our church has been going every summer ever since the tsunami hit the Tohoku area in 2011 destroying the entire region. The earthquake was recorded as the most powerful earthquake to hit the area. This earthquake triggered a tsunami with waves up to 133 ft. There were 15,894 deaths, 6,152 injured, and 2,562 people missing after this tsunami. 228,863 people were put into temporary housing or permanent relocation.

In the first years after the flood, temporary housing units were everywhere and the primary focus was to serve them. Five years later, most of the areas are rebuilt, lives have moved on, and volunteers have left the region.

This year was the first time Deborah and I got to see Japan firsthand. While it appears that everything is back to normal, there is still enormous need within the Japanese church.  Japan is less than 1% Christian, which means churches are really small, and the workers are few. The church we stayed at was founded just 3 years ago, and it is the first and only church in the city of Ishinomaki.

Many of the fishing businesses are also heavily reliant on volunteers, and we got to meet Japanese people from all over the country volunteering with us when we helped an oyster fishing family.

The Trip

Before the trip, Deborah and I had no idea what to expect. We had never been to Japan, our team didn’t know each other that well, and it was our first time going on a mission trip together as a married couple. Armed with a few Japanese phrase and facts about the country, we boarded a plane and flew across the world.

Our two weeks there turned out to be an amazing experience. In addition to volunteering with the oyster family, we got to help Watanoha Christ Church form a partnership with non-profit organization for children right across the street. The non-profit’s goal is to provide a safe place for children to be creative. This could change the future of so many children’s’ lives, especially in a culture that encourages conformity and discourages individualism. Together, we hope they will make an impact in the neighborhood. At the end of our time in Japan, we threw a neighborhood bloc party at the church. Over 60 people came out, and we hope Watanoha Christ Church can continue to be a light in the neighborhood.

Afterwards, we felt refreshed and encouraged for the work that God is doing in Japan. Although there are so few Christians, we know that God is working and bringing people to him. Instead of detailing all the activities we did, I’ll let the photos do the talking.